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Geekdom Goes Cool @ The Science Café
Just about everyone outside of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has had their day in court or at least their day in high school where your inner nerd played havoc with your self esteem, if not your soul. No one most of us hung around with ever seemed quite as cool as we wished we could be. At least in my part of the solar system, The Great Divide was tiny compared to the light years that separated advanced Biology from Prom Queens and Jocks, which frolicked just this side of Mount Olympus with the other mythological Gods and Goddesses.
Who really grasps the fact that computer nerds transform into special effects mavens and math wizards and would put a rover on Mars? Well, the folks who attend the Science Café -- launched by Case Western Reserve University and hosted at Great Lakes Brewing Company -- have got that locked. And the odds are, there's at least a part of you that will be completely captivated.
All right, it's time to "fess up." You have secretly watched National Geographic with all the lights out and maintained your anonymity, haven't you? You've channel surfed between The Office, and Cold Case, and fiendishly become mesmerized by special effects in space movies. You daydreamed of being an astronaut and longed to cavort with the dolphins as your high school Science Fair project... didn't you?
You're a closet science buff, aren't you? Well all is well. Relax, your ship has finally come in. Move over nuclear physicists, paleontologist, and ethnobotanists. Geekdom has finally gone cool and no one can dispute it. The Science Café is happening, and has come of age right here in Cleveland.
The overwhelming success of The Science Café has amazed and delighted not only participants but founders; Ken Street (NASA), Tom Mortimer, Darin Croft, Cynthia Beall, (Case Western University), and David Saja (The Cleveland Natural History Museum.) All accomplished scientists in their own right. Each of them devoted to rekindling the childlike wonder and joy we all once felt as we perpetrated "science experiments" behind closed doors in the bathroom sink... much to the chagrin of our mothers.
Can you remember the excitement of doing those simple, goofy science experiments? Wow, science really was cool back then.
Wanting to get back to where kid-like curiosity left off, I made a recent visit to The Science Café and had the pleasure of meeting each of the founders and shared in their enthusiasm, love of science and fun spirited commitment to the Cleveland community.
Rarely have I met individuals so jolly and unencumbered by taking a weekday evening after work, on their own time, to spread the collective knowledge they have gleaned in their diverse and respective fields. It was obvious building The Science Café was an act of love. Maybe that's why it has been so successful.
The popularity of The Science Café quickly outgrew the basement quarters the group was occupying the second Monday of each month at The Great Lakes Brewery. Fascinating science topics mixed with Great Lake’s earthy brews and appetizers makes for not only an intellectually stimulating evening, but a great evening with friends at a great Cleveland hangout known for service and fine dining. It is hard to beat this eclectic mix on an otherwise doomed weekday evening of reality TV.
Unlike weekends in this Ohio City haunt, parking is a snap on Mondays. The leisurely, laid back atmosphere of the speakers makes question and answer time after the talk feel like a chat with old chums.
There are only two other science cafes in Ohio and a total of approximately fifty-one throughout the United States. The spread of science cafes throughout the world is base on a grassroots movement by scientists willing to create forum communities. Timely science topics are discussed without elitist jargon that allows a flow of mindful sharing and the love of science to flourish.
What’s better than a great beer and great conversation? Not much. You can find your way to an interesting evening of fun at The Science Café. Maybe you'll just remember how much you loved science.
The next Science Café takes place Monday, May 12, with drinks starting at 6:30PM and Science Café experts beginning at 7PM. Great Lakes Brewery Company 2516 Market Ave. Call 771-4404 or visit http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com for directions and details.
Some engaging Café experts have passed you by all ready. See what you’ve missed: http://www.case.edu/affil/sigmaxi/PastCafes.html.
It’s not too late to get in on what’s up and coming here: http://www.case.edu/affil/sigmaxi/index.html.
For more information on The Science Café go to:
http://www.case.edu/affil/sigmaxi/index.html.
To get on The Science Café’s list for topics and dates of The Science Café.
Email Darin Croft at dcroftATcase.edu (replace the "AT" accordingly).
From Cool Cleveland contributor Deb Dockery dddockeryATaol.com
Comments? Letters@CoolCleveland.com
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